Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-21
HON. b. w. BYRNE
Gives Some Interesting Facts and Figures
ON the Growth of Our State.
n, Al. r,gff,- ~ a. ps,,ssfSr

Gives some Interesting Facts and Figures
ON the Growth of Our State.
TO tAe Editor oftas Register.
CHARLESTON, April 1S.-I hope you
will again give me space in your paper in
a second effort to correct the serious blum
der fallen into by Mr.. Lucas in which he
attempte to prove that taxable values In
this State were rapidly falling of, and our
State and people were therefore rapidly
becoming poorer.
This effort coming from Mr.. Lucas,
whose name has but recently been publish
ed all over the country as a United States
Senator, is calculated, on account OF ITS
authority, to do our State and people great
harm, if his assersions 20 uncOntradieted
by the facts. That his statements are be-
lieyed is evidenced by the tact that Ms
sons Democrat publishes q communication
from which take the following:
Lucas called attention 10 the fact that
during the ten years preceding Governor
JacksOn's last message, the value OF prop
erty in West Virginia decreased more than
SIC, 200, GOO"
This article continues: Zone of Cam
denis supporters tries to break the force OF
this fact, and, with this object, calls at
/ tention TO the circumstance that the $3,-
OOO, 900, which Davis refers TO, came into
this State subsequent to Jackson's message.
This is plausible, but il is no answer to
what Lucas said The Auditors report
shows that our property decreased in value
over $4,000, 900 during last year. The
| 4 =. l.. Of
tween ISL and 1886 exceeded 50, Coz, OOO.
In other words, according to the showing
of Camden's own supporters, this decrease
of 81, SOC, 900 occurred during the very
time of the pretended influx ofthe 81 OO,-
600.
''But il is all nonsense to say that the
building of the Ohio River road brought
three millions into this State. The money
paid for iron and for the equipment did not
come into this State. The only money
building 4 road brings into the State Is
what is expended for crOss-ties, making the
road-bel and for land damages.
Lucas point is agood one. The Cam
den Davis syndicate are rapidly becoming
enormously wealthy at the very time the
mass OF our people are becoming poorer.
One Of Camden's supporters says this
article tries to break the force of this tact,
that 1.-THE value of property in West Nir-
giuia decreased more than $4,000, OOO'
duiing the ten years preceding Governor
JacksOn's message Ii the writer had no
higher aim than the yindicatiOn of Mr..
Camden, or Mr.. Davis either, from the
charges in the bitter language used toward
them by Mr.. Lucas in his letter, he GER
tainly would not have called the atten-
ton of the public to the gross
mistake made by Mr. Lucas
in publishing to the world
that the State WAS rapidly declining in
wealth. As to Camden and Davis their
acts in bringing capital into the State
speak louder in their vindicatiOn from the
charge that they impoverished the Stale
than any language of mine could do, that
goes without saying. | happen TO have
at hand table taken from the Auditors
reports prepared for my own information,
showing the assessed value of the property
of our State from 1864 to 1886 inclusive,
which take pleasure in producing for the
benefit of Mr.. Lucas and all who feel
pride in the material progress of our State.
| That our State has made very creditable
progress in assessed values for purposes Of
taxation every one who examines this
table must admit.